
Members of "The Fairy Tale Chronicles" cast include (from left): Tonya Bludsworth, Chandler McIntyre, Catherine Smith, Mark Scarboro, Tom Scott and Darlene Parker Black
“Fairy tales can come true. It can happen to you. If you’re young at heart…”
I always thought that opening line of Frank Sinatra’s “Young at Heart” so poetic.
Until I realized that most fairy tales aren’t kind to women, and we shouldn’t want them to come true.
However, “The Fairy Tale Chronicles” playing at Theatre Charlotte have made me rethink my position.
Theater producer/actor Donna Scott (and my dear friend) conjured up the vision for this show two years ago after her second successful production of “The Body Chronicles.”
She asked local writers to deconstruct and re-imagine the tales of evil stepmothers, harpies, shrews and gullible dimwits.
More than 150 local artists and patrons of the arts community worked with Donna to develop the best entries. Five of those original pieces are being performed by some of the best actors working in the city. The playwrights include Jennifer Hubbard, Marla Brown, Iesha Hoffman, Stan Peal and Shannon Reichley.

Keep your eye on Mark Scarboro in "The Fairy Tale Chronicles." He's so funny that I almost peed my pants.
The director, Sheila Snow Proctor, is pretty damn awesome, too! (She just finished the multi-character supporting role in “Southern Rapture.“)
Did I mention that the original music is by the one and only Gina Stewart (actor and member of Volatile Baby and Doubting Thomas)? Oh, and there’s been a whole arts festival going on during the two-week run? ***I’m going to see Slam Charlotte’s Concrete Generation perform at 7:30 pm Wednesday, June 10.***
So, here’s the deal I have for you: For the June 11 (Thursday) show of “The Fairy Tale Chronicles,” get $5 off of the price of each ticket you buy if you walk up to the box office and say “I want the FOC special!“
FOC = Friend of Crystal.
Regular ticket prices are $21 for adults; $19 for seniors; $12 for children 12 & under. Yes, the show is kid-friendly.
The performance starts at 8 pm and is general admission. The earlier you get there, the better your seat and the parking spot. This offer is only good for the June 11 show.
Theatre Charlotte is at 501 Queens Road. Click here for deets.
Read Observer Theater writer Lawrence Toppman’s preview and review of “The Fairy Tale Chronicles.”
See ya at the theater Thursday for a night of original, local entertainment!
PS: If you can’t make it and you know someone who might be interested in going, tell them about the FOC deal.